Tweezers



Feb. 19, (1935. Y T, MOSELEY 4 1,991,816

T'wEEzERs Filed Feb. 24, 1954 INVENTOR.,

. A TTORNE Y Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNrrfEp Ismres TWEEZE'RS Tomlinson I.. Moseley, `San` Francisco, Calif.; as-

,signonto United States Appliance lCorporation,

a-corporation of California "Application 'February 24, 1934, SerialN0 .'7^12,789v 14' claims. (Cl. 12s-+355) This invention relates to .improvements in 'electrically operated tweezers.

An.bj ect of fmy invention is to provide .an automatic.hair pulling tweezer which isparticu- `larly adapted for use .-in .removing.superuous .hairs from the eyebrows.

Another .object of .rmy invention is t0'V provide an electrically ope-rated tweezerhaving ya pair of 1- gripping'jaws capable `offbeing projected and at the same time automatically separated at their gripping ends; thewdevice also .including mechanismwfor temporarily retaining the jaws fin a projected position `while .theyare being closed .upon la. hair which is yto Vbe removed,V and `electrically operated reti-acting .mechanism for automatically withdrawing the jaws with the firmly grasped hair therebetween.

A -further object of Amy Yinvention is to provide an automatic tweezer of novel .designand con-v structionwhich'is capable ofV grasping and pull- -ing hairs 'from :the eyebrows `(or elsewhere with such rapidity that the `subject `experiences no appreciable pain.

Other objects more Vor -less apparent' -wil1 present themselves-or `will.bespeciically pointed out in the description.4 of `my invention which is.y to follow. Y

In -the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 isa longitudinal central section of tweezers Aconstructed in accordance with. .my'finvention;

Fig. 2 isa. top ,plan viewofthe tvfeezerspartly in section, showing the cover or name plate removed;

Fig. 3 is..an enlarged` section .takenfon .the y,line 3-4-3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 isanlenlargedsection taken on theline 4 4 of Fig., 1; `and `l=ig.5,-is anenlarged section takenfon the line 5-5.of Fig.- 1.

The present f invention, .although .intended primarilyasadevice to be employedin removing vsuperiiuous,v hairs, is capable .of being adapted for useinimechanical work.als o. f

Referring .to kthe drawingjthenurner'al 1f.des,`

Mounted for reciprocating motion insidethe sleeve 2 is a block 4 which is provided with oppositely disposed grooves 5 and 6 on`its top and bottom sides, respectively.

'Extending 'into .the` groove15 through, oversized openings .provided in the casing 1 and sleeve, 2, is astop or shock absorbing .member '7 .against which the rear and front end walls ofthe groove 5 Contact` when .the block` 4 -moves with reciprocatingmotion. .The ,member '7. is preferablyT- 5 shaped, .and is suitably, imbedded inacushion 8 of resilient .material located in an ,opening Drovided intheupper sideof the casing. 1. .flheopening Awithinwhich the cushion 8.s.located is ."closed at Yits .top sidebyasuitable cover 9. The front 1 0 end of .the-block 4 isV adapted .to..co.ntact..witha shoulder. on the iferrule, which .providessstop means for confining .the forwardmovementofthe said block .within certain limits. .f.A..1eaf.-.Vspr,ing

10 located in the groove .6,Lenggingwithfboth A15, the vblock .4.and .the\s1eeve12, tends.. toprovide means for .maintaining .theproper .frictional re- .lationshiplbetween l.the ,block and the vsleeve.

. Extending .through .the ferrule 3 are jawsl 1, and 12 of the'tweezers. `T12-The.rear..,part orlegnf the 20 jaw l 1. isrigidly securedtas, byscrews, .tdthe block v4, vwhile the rear part or leg .ofthe jaw 12 atpcints intermediate -its ends. is .pivotally 1secured as. .fat

13 to the said block', .withina suitable longitudinal vslot providedlinjthe'latter.. Moyably .extending 25 through a centrally disposedend cap. 1.4V provided on the rear .end of..the.block.4is a r.od'1.t' f,vvhioh is suitably connectedfto .a -freciprocating plunger 22 .mounted in the casing l. The Lend .cap .143s

.intended primarily .asagmeans ,foreonning 30 suitable lubricating and L Sound l.deadening medium within thelongitudinal slot fof .thel.block14.

forwardly. The forwardpressure exertedby the 40 rod 15 .uponthespring 16.;s transferred to .the projection. 17;.therebyeausing ,thejaw l2 to ,move

.about itsV .pivot .13 .isop as .to bring.,about. aseparation of. its forward gripping .end from `theadjacentend .of .jaw 11. ,.The-rod .15.is provided with 45 .a projection 18.which.is.located .directly .forward 'of a 'shoulder'. .18 onthe rear .end .of..thep..block.`4. When Vthe rod 15.is moved rearwardly,..the` .projection Y18 engages with the .said.shoulder..18'., thereupon causing theblock andthe tweezers-to 50 be moved in a rearward direction.

So as to provide means for bringing the jaw l2 into gripping. engagement with the' jaw 11 prior vtothe rearward" Vmovement "of the ysaid jaws, a

protuberance or projecton'19. is provided fonl a 5.5

side of the rod 15. The protuberance 19 is positioned so as to engage with a protuberance 20 located at the inner side of the rear end of the leg of jaw 12, when the rod 15 is moved in a rearward direction. The relative positions of the protuberance 20 and the rear shoulder 18 of the block 4 is such that the said shoulder is engaged by the projection 18 after the protuberance 19 has firmly engaged with the protuberance 20 on the said leg of jaw 12. In this way, the engagement of the protuberance 19 with the protuberance 20 causes the jaw 12 to be brought into. av

firm gripping position with respect to the jaw 11, prior to the time the block 4 and the said jaws are moved rearwardly. So as to provide means for moving the block 4 and the tweezers in a forward direction, a pin or screw 21 is secured to the said block, across its longitudinal slot, and directly adjacent and in front of the protuberance 19 on the rod 15. Thus as the rod 15 is moved forwardly, the protuberance 1 9 engages with the screw 21 and causes the block and tweezers to be carried in a forward direction until such movement is arrested by the shoulder on the ferrule 3 being engaged by the said block. It is therefore apparent when theplunger 22 is moved forwardly that the' jaws 11 and 12 of the tweezers lare also moved in the same direction and at the same time separated one from the other. It is also apparent when the plunger is moved rearwardly, that vthe jaw 12 is brought into rm gripping engagement with the jaw 1l, and that thereafter the two jaws while maintained in their firm gripping relationship with one another are moved in unison in a rearward direction.

Secured as by screws to the casing 1 is a combined hair guide and skin protector 23, the free forked end of which is normally positioned just in front of the jaws 11 and l2 when they are in an extreme forward position.

An armature 24, mounted for reciprocating motion in a sleeve 25 which is attached to the rear end of the casing, is suitably secured to the plunger 22 as by a pin. Interposed between the armature 24 and a stop member 26 which is pinned to the rear end of the sleeve 25, is a spiral spring 27. The spiral spring 2'7 causesthe return of the jaws 11 and 12 to their extremeforward positions after they have been pulled rearwardly against the said spring by the movement in the same direction of the armature. A solenoid 28, supplied with electrical current from a suitable source through wires 29 is adapted to be intermittently energized by the operation of a suitable switch, thereby causing the armature to be moved rearwardly each time the circuit to the solenoid is closed. The solenoid is electrically connected at one end to a ystationary contact point 30, and a contact control lever 31 pivotally mounted on toggle screws 32 is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said contact point. The contact control lever 31 is provided with a depending arm 33 which extends between two spaced projections 34 on the plunger 22. As the plunger 22 is actuated backand forth, its two spaced projections 34 alternately engage with the arm 33 of the contact control lever 31, thereby. causing the latter to be moved into and out of engagement with the contact point 30. A toggle spring 35 attached to the contact control lever 31 and to one of the screws 36, gives the said lever a deiinte current, so when the said lever is brought into engagement with the contact point 30 the circuit to the solenoid is completed. -Upon the completion of the circuit to the solenoid the latter is energized, thereby causing the armature 24, the plunger 22, the block 4 and the tweezers to be pulled rearwardly. The rearward movement of the plunger brings the foremost of the two projections 34 into engagement with the arm 33'01 the contact control lever, thereby causing the disengagement of the latter from the contact point 30. As soon as the circuit to the solenoid is broken, the then compressed spring 27 forces the armature 24, the plunger 22, the block 4 and the tweezers in a forward direction. When the plunger is moved sufliciently in a forward direction the rearmost of the two projections 34 engages with the arm 33 of the control lever 31, thereby causing the latter to again contactwith the point 30 to complete thecircuit to the solenoid 28. In this manner the tweezers are automatically moved back and forth with reciprocating motion.4 The opening inthe casing Within which the contact control lever 31 is mounted is normally closed by a cover or name plate 37. The name plate is secured to the casing by the screws 36, and an insulated contact point 38 on the bottom of the said plate serves as buffer means for the contact control lever 31 in its upward movement.

Mounted at the end of the casing 1 and extending in spaced relation around the solenoid 28, is an end cap 39 which is secured to the armatures stop member 26 by a nut 40. The end cap is provided with a suitable opening through which the f wires 29 extend.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and changes in regard to form, shape and l,

minor details of construction. It therefore is to be understood that the appended claims are to determine the scope of my invention rather than the exact disclosures made herein. v

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1.,A tweezers comprising a pair of gripping jaws, one of said jaws being mounted at a point intermediate its ends for pivotal movement and the other of said jaws being rigidly mounted,

bodily rearwardly while they are in gripping position.

2. A tweezers comprising a pair of gripping jaws, reciprocating means mounting said jaws,

means for applying an outward pressure to the one of said jaws being rigidly mounted on said means .and the other of said jaws being pivotally mounted on a pin secured to said means, means for moving the pivoted jaw into gripping engagement with the fixed jaw, and means for moving the reciprocating means and the jaws in a rearward direction while the said jaws are in gripping position.

3. A tweezers comprising a casing, a reciprocating member mounted in the casing, a pair of gripping jaws carried by the member, one of the jaws being .pivotally attached at a point intermediate its ends to the member and the other of said jaws being rigidly secured to Said member, means for applying an outward pressure to one end of the pivoted jaw whereby the opposite end of the said jaw may be moved into gripping position withfrespect to-the rigi'df'jam means for inaintainingfithe jaws iinfg'rip'pi'ng position -while they arefxnoved rearwardly; means rormoving the sanar'member and 'the jaws rearwardly; 'andl sprihglm'eans'l-for actuating the member and the jaw-s ina-forwardrdire'ction; Y

4. A tweezers-comprising pair ffgrippin'g jaws, a reciprocating member mountingsaid` jaws, -`one vef said `ja'ws-f-being-rigidly secured to the member and the other of the jaws being pivotally mounted on the said member, means for bringing said pivotally mounted jaw into gripping position with the xed jaw, means for moving said reciprocating member and the jaws rearwardly, spring means for actuating the reciprocating member and the jaws in a forward direction, means for separating the jaws when they are moved forwardly, and buffer means positioned to intercept the reciprocating member at the end of its forward stroke. l

5. A tweezers comprising a pair of gripping jaws, a reciprocating member mounting said jaws, one of the jaws being rigidly mounted and the other of the jaws being pivotally mounted at a point intermediate its ends, reciprocating means carrying a member for moving one end 0f the pivoted jaw outwardly, rwhereby its opposite end may be moved into gripping position with respect to the rigid jaw and for maintaining said gripping relationship between the jaws as they are carried rearwardly, means carried by the reciprocating means for engaging with the said member, whereby the said member and the jaws may be carried bodily rearwardly and forwardly, electrically operated means for actuating the reciprocating means rearwardly, and spring means for actuating the reciprocating means forwardly.

6. A tweezers comprising a reciprocating member, a pair of jaws carried by the member,' movable means for bringing the jaws into gripping position and for maintaining said gripping relation during the rearward movement of said jaws, a projection carried by the movable means for engaging with the reciprocating member just after the jaws are brought into gripping position and for carrying the reciprocating member and the jaws rearwardly, means for actuating the movable means rearwardly, and means for actuating the said movable means forwardly.

7. A tweezers comprising a reciprocating member, a pair of jaws carried by the member, movable means for bringing the jaws into gripping position and for maintaining said gripping position during the rearward movement of said jaws, the said movable means having a projection for engaging with the reciprocating member just after the jaws are brought into gripping position, whereby the reciprocating member and the jaws may be carried rearwardly while the jaws are in gripping position, electrically operated means for actuating the movable means rearwardly, spring means for actuating the movable means forwardly, and means carried by the movable means for separating the jawsduring the forward movement cf said reciprocating lmember and the jaws.

8. A tweezers comprising a pair of jaws, a reciprocating member mounting said jaws, one of the jaws being pivotally mounted and having a protuberance thereon, a reciprocating rod having a projection thereon for engaging with the protuberance of the jaw when the said rod is moved rearwardly, whereby the pivoted jaw may be moved into gripping engagement with the other offsaid'j'aws, thel said'irod' also carrying means for engaging withA4 the reciprocating' members-rter' the jaws are irr` gripping engagement, 'whereby thesaidlreciprocating member and `the jaws-may be moved` bodily in av rearward' direction,and`

the reciprocating member when the rod is moved rearwardly, whereby the said reciprocating member and the jaws may be bodily moved in a rearward direction, means for actuating said rod rearwardly, spring means for actuating the rod, the reciprocating member and the jaws in a forward direction, and means actuated bythe forward movement of the rod `for moving the piv- Oted jaw out of its gripping position `with re- Spect to the other of the said jaws.

10. In a tweezers, a casing, a pair of jaws mounted for reciprocating motion inside the casing, the gripping ends of the jaws extending externally of the casing, means for moving the jaws back and forth inside the casing, and a combined hair guide and skin protector secured to the casing and extending in front of the gripping ends of the jaws.

1l. In a tweezers, a casing, reciprocating jaws mounted in the casing with their gripping' ends disposed externally thereof, and means for moving the jaws in one direction comprising an armature mounted in the casing, means connecting the jaws and the armature, a solenoid associated with the armature and connected in an electrical circuit for actuating the armature, an automatically operated switch for opening and closing the circuit to the solenoid, and meansactuated by the armature for automatically operating the switch.

12. In a tweezers, reciprocating jaws, means forbodily moving the jaws rearwardly, comprising an armature, means connecting the armature and the jaws, a solenoid associated with the armature and connected in an electrical circuit, a switch connected in the circuit, switch operating means adapted to be automatically actuated through the movement of the armature to open and close the switch, and spring means for automatically moving the armature, the means connecting the armature and the jaws, and the said jaws in a certain direction after they have been moved in the opposite direction when the Solenoid is energized.

13. In tweezers, reciprocating jaws, means for automatically moving the jaws into and out of gripping position with respect to one another, means for bodily moving the jaws in a certain direction comprising an armature connected to the jaws, a solenoid associated with the armature and connected in an electrical circuit, a switch connected in the circuit, and switch operating means actuated by the armature for automatically opening and closing the switch.

14. In tweezers, reciprocating jaws, means for automatically closing and opening the jaws, means for moving the jaws bodily in a certain direction comprising an armature, a solenoid associated with the armature and connected in an electrical circuit, a rigid member connecting the armature and the jaws, the said'member having spaced projections thereon, a switch connected in the electrical circuit having an arm thereon which is positioned between the two projections on the rigid member, the said projections and arms being so disposed with respect to one another that the said arm is engaged and moved rst by one of the projections and then by the other as the rigid member is moved back and forth, whereby the switch may be opened andl closed when the armature is moved with reciprocating motion, and spring means for moving the armature in a forward direction after it has been moved rearwardly when the solenoid is energized.

TOMLINSON I. MOSELEY. Y 

